<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/atlanta-hawks/hawks-news-zaccharie-risacher-trae-young-connection-growth-entering-year-2');   ga('set', 'title', 'How Zaccharie Risacher’s special Trae Young ‘connection’ fuels growth entering Year 2');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Zaccharie-Risacher_ab22eb.jpg"><figcaption>Dale Zanine-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>How Zaccharie Risacher’s special Trae Young ‘connection’ fuels growth entering Year 2</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-08-29T09:26:06-07:00">August 29th, 9:26am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-08-29T09:26:06-07:00">August 29th, 9:26am</time><address><a>Malik Brown</a>Malik Brown is a multimedia reporter based in Atlanta who covers the Hawks and Dream for ClutchPoints. Malik has worked in entertainment and sports, and he specializes in the NBA and NFL.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Atlanta Hawks</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Zaccharie <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/atlanta-hawks/hawks-news-zaccharie-risacher-reveals-rookie-season-mindset">Risacher is going into his second season</a> in the league, and his rookie year was nothing short of amazing for what he brought to the Atlanta Hawks. He came into a position that many No. 1 overall picks don’t, and instead of having so much pressure on him to succeed, he was able to let the game come to him and support the other established players around him.</p><p>One of those established players around Risacher was Trae Young, who probably made his rookie season easier than ever.  Rischer recently spoke about that connection he had with Young and <a href="https://basketnews.com/news-230190-zaccharie-risacher-reacts-to-hawks-landing-porzingis-praises-trae-young.html" rel="noopener">is excited to get back</a> on the court with him, according to Pijus Sapetka of Basketnews.</p><p>“I feel like we established a connection during the year,” Risacher said. “Honestly, it was great for me to play with him. Obviously, he’s one of the best passers in the league. I feel like I was lucky to start in the NBA, my rookie season with him by my side. Yeah, just a great guy outside the court, too. It’s exciting to see him again in September.”</p><p>With the attention that Young requires when he’s on the court, he makes the game easier for his teammates. Not to forget to mention, but he’s also one of the best playmakers in the league. It’s one of the reasons why Risacher was able to average 12.6 points in his rookie season, and his shooting numbers continued to rise as the year continued.</p><p>Risacher is primed to take another step this season, and he’s getting reps in before the season starts playing for France in the EuroBasket.</p><h2><b>Zaccharie Risacher is excited about new additions to Hawks</b></h2><p>Outside of the growth that many are expecting from Risacher in his second season, the Hawks made some moves in the offseason to improve the team. The first thing they did was <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/boston-celtics/kristaps-porzingis-trade-grade-hawks-celtics-deal">trade for Kristaps Porzingis</a>, and Risacher <a href="https://basketnews.com/news-230190-zaccharie-risacher-reacts-to-hawks-landing-porzingis-praises-trae-young.html" rel="noopener">shared his thoughts</a> on the move.</p><p>“I feel like it’s going to be great. I talked to him a little bit, and he seems like a great guy,” Risacher said. “But honestly, I’m more focused on the Euro for now.”</p><p>Risacher will also be playing with new teammates such as Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Luke Kennard this season, which should be a huge jump for the team as they plan on being one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

How Zaccharie Risacher’s special Trae Young ‘connection’ fuels growth entering Year 2

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/atlanta-hawks/udonis-haslem-has-kendrick-perkins-moment-pronouncing-hawks-zaccharie-risachers-name');   ga('set', 'title', 'Udonis Haslem has Kendrick Perkins moment pronouncing Hawks’ Zaccharie Risacher’s name');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Atlanta-Hawks-forward-Zaccharie-Risacher-1.jpg"><figcaption>Brad Penner-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Udonis Haslem has Kendrick Perkins moment pronouncing Hawks’ Zaccharie Risacher’s name</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-08-14T17:24:51-07:00">August 14th, 5:24pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-08-14T17:25:53-07:00">August 14th, 5:25pm</time><address><a>Zachary Howell</a>Zachary Howell is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints focusing on creating premier MLB content. He is a big fan of the Yankees, Oklahoma City Thunder and the Syracuse Orange. In his free time, he likes to be outside or read.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Atlanta Hawks</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Atlanta Hawks have become one of the Eastern conference’s more interesting teams. While <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/atlanta-hawks/hawks-must-give-trae-young-229-million-max-contract-extension">Trae Young’s extension still hasn’t happened</a>, the team made big moves. Even though they are much more popular, analysts are still learning how to pronounce their players’ names. Udonis Haslem had a moment similar to Kendrick Perkins when saying Zaccharie Risacher’s name.</p><p>Risacher, the top pick from the 2024 draft, had a strong finish to the season after getting his feet under him. He couldn’t catch San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle for the Rookie of the Year honors, but he showed flashes down the stretch. In addition to being an interesting young talent, Risacher has given announcers a tough time because of how his last name is pronounced.</p><p>On Thursday’s episode of <i>NBA Today</i>, Haslem made a point about the Hawks’ roster. When he got to Risacher, though, he <a href="https://x.com/TheDunkCentral/status/1956087732931059755" rel="noopener">struggled with the pronunciation</a> of his name.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">"…you got your young core in Jalen Johnson and… Rosh Hashanah, however you say his name. Excuse me, I'm sorry, Risacher. Zaccharie Risacher…" – Udonis Haslem 😂 <a href="https://t.co/5XKFZYq06N">pic.twitter.com/5XKFZYq06N</a></p><p>— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) <a href="https://twitter.com/awfulannouncing/status/1956096185661579665?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 14, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>After Perkins went viral for fumbling a name during the NBA draft, fans have become more attuned to calling out analysts when they make mistakes with names. Haslem received that kind of backlash from fans on social media.</p><p>“Former players are destroying sports talk,” one fan <a href="https://x.com/TM_AholaBoyz/status/1956098705016140284" rel="noopener">claimed</a>. “They have become unwatchable!!”</p><p>“This is what happens when you hire nba players instead of actual NBA journalists and analysts,” <a href="https://x.com/_MylesAllen4/status/1956107033779773841" rel="noopener">said</a> another.</p><p>“Seeing him laugh at his own lack of professionalism really annoys me,” <a href="https://x.com/IceEffectFGC/status/1956098113007182259" rel="noopener">commented</a> one fan.</p><p>His name might be hard to say, but Risacher’s teammates are excited to see what he can do. The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/atlanta-hawks/hawks-news-atlanta-acquiring-kristaps-porzingis-3-team-trade-celtics-nets">Hawks added Kristaps Porzingis</a> and Nickeil Alexander-Walker this summer to take a step forward. However, the second-year wing might be the biggest x-factor in the 2025-26 season in Atlanta.</p><p>If Risacher grows as much as the Hawks think he will, he could become a household name. Luckily for Haslem, he will have enough practice saying his name to avoid future mistakes.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Udonis Haslem has Kendrick Perkins moment pronouncing Hawks’ Zaccharie Risacher’s name

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/atlanta-hawks/hawks-news-zaccharie-risacher-high-praise-teammate-amid-strong-rookie-season');   ga('set', 'title', 'Hawks’ Zaccharie Risacher gets high praise from teammate amid strong rookie season');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Zaccharie-Risacher.jpg"><figcaption>Dale Zanine-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Hawks’ Zaccharie Risacher gets high praise from teammate amid strong rookie season</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-05-08T12:32:41-07:00">May 8th, 12:32pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-05-08T12:32:41-07:00">May 8th, 12:32pm</time><address><a>Malik Brown</a>Malik Brown is a multimedia reporter based in Atlanta who covers the Hawks and Dream for ClutchPoints. Malik has worked in entertainment and sports, and he specializes in the NBA and NFL.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Atlanta Hawks</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Atlanta Hawks showed this season that the future is bright, and they have several players who have the potential to be something special in the league. One of those players is Zaccharie Risacher, who is coming off a strong rookie season after being selected No. 1 in the NBA Draft.</p><p>Throughout the season, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/atlanta-hawks/hawks-news-quin-snyder-truth-bomb-zaccharie-risacher-year-1-growth">Risacher showed the ebbs and flows</a> of being a rookie in the league, and by the end of the year, it was obvious that he was putting things together and figuring it out. Not only did the fans see it, but his teammates saw the growth, and Larry Nance Jr. recently <a href="https://x.com/Larrydn22/status/1920534684083056698" rel="noopener">had some kind words</a> to say about his rookie on social media.</p><p>“The kind of player we’re going to be watching for a 15+ year career. Already gets what it means to be a professional,” Nance wrote on X, formerly Twitter.</p><p>Risacher showed that he had an arsenal of moves in his bag this season, whether it came from shooting the 3-ball, making plays at the rim, or defending at a high level. If he can build on those things coming into his second season, his play should lift the Hawks to where they want to be, which is among the best of the Eastern Conference.</p><h2><b>Zaccharie Risacher should build off strong rookie season</b></h2><p>During the season, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/atlanta-hawks/hawks-news-zaccharie-risacher-reveals-rookie-season-mindset">Risacher’s mindset was to get better</a> every day and not focus on what the outside world was saying.</p><p>“I feel like I don’t judge me, I just make sure to have the right mentality, make sure I put the work in every day so I can get better on the court and help my team to compete and win games,” Risacher said after their game against the Philadelphia 76ers. “I just know what I do. It’s a long journey, it’s a long process, and of course, the goal is to progress every day which I wanted to do since Day 1.”</p><p>Risacher definitely progressed throughout the season, and he had the awards to prove it. He won Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month in back-to-back months and was a finalist for Rookie of the Year at the end of the season. That’s something that he can build on, and he should come back even better next season.</p><p>The Hawks have a core group of players that has shown that it can be one of the better groups in the East for years to come, and they know what they need to do to get better.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Hawks’ Zaccharie Risacher gets high praise from teammate amid strong rookie season

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/washington-wizards/alex-sarr-all-rookie-status-stephon-castle-zaccharie-risacher');   ga('set', 'title', 'Why Alex Sarr deserves All-Rookie status with Stephon Castle, Zaccharie Risacher');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Why-Alex-Sarr-deserves-All-Rookie-status-with-Stephon-Castle-Zaccharie-Risacher.jpg"></figure><h1>Why Alex Sarr deserves All-Rookie status with Stephon Castle, Zaccharie Risacher</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-04-24T15:24:01-07:00">April 24th, 3:24pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-04-24T15:50:28-07:00">April 24th, 3:50pm</time><address><a>Joshua Valdez</a>Joshua Valdez started his journalism career as the Sports Editor for the Rutgers University newspaper before becoming an associate editor and Washington Wizards/Mystics reporter for ClutchPoints. He is a diehard Yankees, Jets, Knicks, Rutgers, and Tottenham Hotspur fan. When Joshua is not either watching a game or writing about one, you can find him in an art-house movie theater or working on a screenplay.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Mini-Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Washington <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/how-alex-sarr-rookie-season-compares-zaccharie-risacher">Wizards big man Alex Sarr’s rookie season</a> was a mixed bag, from his rough Summer League campaign to winning Eastern Conference Player of the Month honors in December to missing all but two games in February with an ankle injury. However, the No. 2 overall pick was one of the best players in the 2024 draft class, even though NBA awards voters didn’t give him credit.</p><p>Sarr was left off the 2024-25 <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/spurs-stephon-castle-believes-rookie-year-locked-up">Rookie of the Year ballot in favor of Stephon Castle</a>, Zaccharie Risacher, and Jaylen Wells. Castle is the <a href="https://www.foxsports.com/articles/nba/2024-25-nba-rookie-of-the-year-odds-and-favorites" rel="noopener">favorite to win</a>, as he should be, via FOX Sports. The San Antonio Spurs guard led the class in total points (1,190) and steals (74) while ranking second in games played (81) and third in assists (332). However, Sarr had a case to be in the second or third slots.</p><p>The seven-footer was second in the class with 13 points and 1.5 blocks per game, as well as fifth with 6.5 rebounds. He’s also the third-ever player to tally 800-plus, 150-plus assists, and 80-plus blocks before turning 20. The first two were LeBron James and Tracy McGrady.</p><p>Sarr’s main weakness was shooting accuracy. The French international’s 39.4 percent field goal clip (30.8 percent 3 PT) is below par for a center and ranked behind both Risacher (45.8 percent, 35.5 percent 3 PT) and Wells (42.5 percent, 35.2 percent 3 PT). His 27.1 minutes per game was second in the class only to teammate Bub Carrington (30), so he relied more on playing time than efficiency to inflate his numbers.</p><p>Still, Sarr deserves an All-Rookie First Team placement, which is given to the five best rookies in the league. The 19-year-old finished third in NBA.com’s <a href="https://www.nba.com/news/kia-rookie-ladder-april-9-2025-edition" rel="noopener">final rookie ladder</a> and was labeled First Team-worthy by Steve Aschburner. His other selections were Castle, Risacher, Wells, and Kel’el Ware.</p><p>Who is Sarr’s main competitor for First Team selection outside of the Rookie of the Year finalists?</p><h2><b>Zach Edey could take Alex Sarr’s spot</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Zach-Edey-Grizzlies.jpg"><figcaption>Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Edey is the likeliest candidate in the field to snag the fifth First Team slot, as the fellow big man was productive in his own right. The 7-foot-4-inch, 305-pounder averaged 9.2 points per game on 58 percent shooting (34.6 percent 3 PT) with 8.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks across 21.5 minutes. However, the three-point percentage is deceiving, as he took just 52 attempts all season, while Sarr took 341.</p><p>If Edey does get selected over Sarr, it’ll be due to his shooting efficiency, rebounding, and only having 0.2 fewer blocks per game. However, the latter rookie deserves credit for producing with less talent around him. The Memphis Grizzlies have two-time All-Stars Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr., while the Wizards’ only former All-Star (Khris Middleton) is past his prime.</p><p>Additionally, Sarr is a more effective playmaker. The former Australian League player averaged 2.4 assists against 1.7 turnovers, while Edey posted one assist against 1.3 turnovers. Sarr showcased his ability to bring the ball up the court and space the floor, while Edey is more of a rim presence who occasionally ventures outside.</p><p>Unfortunately for Sarr, players on winning or playoff teams often get favored over those on lottery squads. That doesn’t guarantee Edey placing over him, but it’s another factor in the Purdue alum’s favor. The Grizzlies are playing the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Quarterfinals, while the Wizards finished 18-64.</p><p>Only time will tell if Sarr gets the credit he deserves, but he’s proven that he’s one of the most exciting young big men to watch in the NBA moving forward.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Why Alex Sarr deserves All-Rookie status with Stephon Castle, Zaccharie Risacher

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/atlanta-hawks/hawks-news-zaccharie-risacher-opens-up-playing-for-france-this-summer');   ga('set', 'title', 'Hawks’ Zaccharie Risacher opens up on ‘dream’ of playing for France this summer');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Zaccharie-Risacher-gets-real-on-playing-in-France.jpg"><figcaption>© Dale Zanine-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Hawks’ Zaccharie Risacher opens up on ‘dream’ of playing for France this summer</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-04-19T08:33:42-07:00">April 19th, 8:33am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-04-19T08:33:42-07:00">April 19th, 8:33am</time><address><a href="https://haydencilley.wixsite.com/hayden-cilley-s-port">Hayden Cilley</a>Hayden Cilley joined ClutchPoints in August 2024 as a Phoenix Suns and Mercury reporter, as well as an Associate Editor. Hayden graduated from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University. He recently covered the Phoenix Mercury for The Next Hoops and PHNX Sports.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Atlanta Hawks</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Plenty of NBA players represent France, and Atlanta Hawks rookie Zaccharie Risacher is no different. After <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/betting/france-vs-usa-2024-olympics-mens-basketball-gold-medal-game-prediction-odds-pick">France took Team USA to the Gold Medal game</a> in the 2024 Summer Olympic Games, it might’ve lit another fire in the rookie.</p><p>When asked about playing for France this summer, Risacher gave <a href="https://x.com/ATLjohnson18/status/1913594172252078171" rel="noopener">an intriguing response</a>.</p><p>“Yeah, that’s something I want to do…The national team is different,” Risacher said via Caleb Johnson on X (formerly Twitter). “I have a lot of pride representing my country. The NBA is a dream, and playing for the national team is a dream too.”</p><p>Sometimes, you can have your cake and eat it, too. That’s the case for the Hawks’ rookie this summer. Plus, playing for the French team can help him tap back into those international roots.</p><p>The NBA has hybrid athletes and can rely on them too much. Meanwhile, the international game emphasizes more of the fundamental and team principles.</p><h2><b>Hawks’ Zaccharie Risacher is stoked to play for France</b></h2><p>After he <a href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2025/3/22/24391542/zaccharie-risacher-analysis-video-stats-nba-draft-rookie-breakdown-quotes#:~:text=Through%20his%20first%2039%20games,point%20attempts%20over%20that%20span." rel="noopener">struggled at the beginning of his rookie season</a>, Risacher had a nice turnaround. He averaged 12.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.2 assists.</p><p>The numbers don’t seem impressive, but he had an impressive second half of the season. About a week prior, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/atlanta-hawks/hawks-news-zaccharie-risacher-goes-full-allen-iverson-astonishing-feat-career-night">Risacher went full Allen Iverson with a scoring feat</a>. He finished with 38 points on 15-20 shooting from the field.</p><p>Going back to France would allow him to get a leg up on the competition. It can provide meaningful games, and learning how to play within a system, while being a main contributor.</p><p>Either way, the improvements from Game 1 to Game 82 are undeniable. Those nights will likely be a recurring theme throughout his career.</p><p>Possibly playing with, or against guys like Rudy Gobert, Nic Batum, Victor Wembanyama, and Evan Fournier can do wonders. They are all NBA players, with the two bigs being All-Stars and All-Defensive players.</p><p>Risacher might get a glimpse at how their games translate from France to the NBA so seamlessly.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

2023-24 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
12.6	3.6	1.2	0.5	0.7

2023-24 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
12.6	3.6	1.2	0.5	0.7

Zaccharie Risacher

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Hawks’ Zaccharie Risacher opens up on ‘dream’ of playing for France this summer

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